Neonatal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level in blood is one of the indicators
recommended for assessing iodine deficiency control programs in a population. This study
evaluates the TSH level in cord blood as a way of assessing the iodine status of neonates in the
National Capital District, PNG.
Assay of TSH in 150 cord sera was by enzyme immunoassay (EIA 96 Microwell plates) using the
sensitive EIA kit provided by LiNEAR Chemicals, S.L. The median TSH level in the sera for all
the neonates was 2.17mIU/L, the interquartile range (IQR) was 1.53 – 3.48mIU/L. The TSH level
in only 2 (1.3%) cord serum samples was greater than 10.0mIU/L. The lower limit (2.5th) and
upper limit (99.0th) of the TSH percentile cut-off levels in all the cord sera were 0.76mIU/L and
11.16mIU/L. The median TSH level in the cord sera of the male neonates was 1.98mIU/L and the
IQR was 1.55 – 3.38mIU/L. For the female neonates the median TSH level was 2.22mIU/L and
the IQR was 1.52 – 3.81mIU/L.
The data indicates normal iodine and thyroid status and zero prevalence of congenital
hypothyroidism among the neonates in NCD.